Navy orders more Fire Scouts

Apr. 7, 2014 - 03:45AM
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The Navy's latest Fire Scout order brings the total number of the craft it wants to 19. (Northrop Grumman)

The Navy has ordered five more MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned helicopters, according to manufacturer Northrop Grumman.

The contract value for the five UAVs is $43.8 million, said Northrop Grumman spokesman Warren Comer. This will increase the number of Fire Scouts on order from 14 to 19. The aircraft will be assembled at Northrop Grumman's Unmanned Systems Center in Moss Point, Miss.

"Land-based flight tests of the system are progressing well and we're working with the Navy to conduct our first ship-based flights this summer," said George Vardoulakis, Northrop Grumman's vice president of medium range tactical systems. "We expect the MQ-8C Fire Scout will be ready for operations by year end."